Agressive behavior
Hi Julie H,
I have a 4 year old bichon frise who is anti social to strangers. If it is a routine that she sees you she will be a friend for life, but if she doesn't know you she is very snippy. We have had her since 8 weeks, she has a collapsing trachea, and has had it from early on, plus I had just found out I was unable to have kids and I have to admit that I did not socialize her as great as she should have been. There are many people she knows and loves and has no issues with at all. (she was also hit with a toy truck from a little kid when she was 2-4 months of age, and there was never any other kids around, so she is definately not a kid person.) She said try a socialization class, at the time we signed up my husband was let go from his job, so it really was unable to be done. The vet has mentioned it is a behavior the dog might always have, but no dog is too young or too old for those classes. It might help, but not take it away. I am looking into this. Since then we have added to our family, and we over socialized him. He is super friendly to all, but he still barks at people. The vet mentioned that might go away and it might not, but no one will be able to sneak up on me. Gidget is also a runt, she is actually the size of a maltese and not a bichon, and I think I over nurtured her as a puppy. Sometimes we have found her not being friendly as a good protective measure such as when the man who just walked into the yard and tried to hold her, he was very close to the house and I had no idea who this man was. I felt very proud of her protecting me!
Gidget, my 4 year old, is a great dog...very loving and nuturing and intuitive. She is a sweetheart, it just takes her time to get to know you. We have one friend who ignored her when she came in and Gidget made up to her immediately. She does warm up to people, and it seems to be a little quicker since Dexter entered the picture. She watches him go and get petted and then she will slowly go over and then she warms up to you by bringing her ball or a toy for you to play with.
Has your vet any ideas to at least help a little more than just a socialization class? Keep me posted.
Beth